About this Event
Discover how small brewing choices can dramatically change the taste of your coffee.
Coffee 101: Make the perfect cup of coffee at home is a hands-on, beginner-friendly coffee workshop led by coffee educator Niki Tolch. This class is designed for anyone curious about pour-over coffee, whether you’re new to manual brewing or looking to better understand why certain coffees taste better to you than others.
We’ll cover foundational pour-over technique while focusing on sensory exploration and personal preference, not rigid recipes. Through guided tasting and experimentation, you’ll learn how adjusting a few key brewing variables can unlock different flavor profiles in the cup.
Who This Workshop Is For
- Coffee drinkers curious about pour-over brewing
- Beginners looking for a clear, approachable introduction
- Home brewers frustrated by inconsistent results
- Anyone interested in flavor, taste, and how coffee works
No prior coffee knowledge required.
What You’ll Learn
- Core pour-over brewing fundamentals
- How grind size affects extraction and flavor
- The role of water temperature and flow rate
- How agitation changes body, sweetness, and clarity
- How to identify your preferred flavor profile
- How to replicate your ideal cup at home
What to Expect
- Hands-on pour-over brewing demonstrations
- Side-by-side tastings to compare variables
- Guided sensory discussion (no prior tasting experience required)
- A welcoming, curiosity-driven learning environment
- Practical takeaways you can use immediately at home
All equipment and coffee will be provided.
Your Host:
Niki Tolch is a pour-over brewing champion and coffee educator known for her approachable, hands-on teaching style. She is the creator and host of Breaking The Crust, a show exploring coffee culture and community through the perspectives of BIPOC voices, and a former coffee podcaster who led in-depth brewing experiments focused on how variables like grind size, water, and technique shape flavor. With a blend of technical expertise, curiosity, and community-centered energy, Niki makes specialty coffee education accessible, engaging, and empowering for all experience levels.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
1806 W Cuyler Ave, 1806 West Cuyler Avenue, Chicago, United States
USD 55.20
